Extension table



1. MERDZINSKI.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-28, 1920.

1,41 1,741. Pawnmd Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I ll 5 i! i a Z i lwuawlioz Patented Apr. 4', 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ElwueMoz .I. MERDZINSKI.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION 'HLED AUG-28, 1920.

1,41 1 ,741. Patented Apr. 4, 1922-.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MERDZINSKI, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

EXTENSION TABLE.

Application filed August 28, 1920. Serial No. 406,560.

To all whom 5t may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN MEnnzINsKI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of llfichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Tables of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tables of the extension type and has as its generalobject to provide a table to the top of which two or more leaves may be added for the purpose of increasing the area of the topand if desired the shape of the top, means being provided for supporting the leaves in a manner equally as substantially as the main portion of the top.

In the table of the present invention the main or permanent section of the top is oil circular form and the leaves or auxiliary sections are oitarcuate form and are to be assembled with the top with their inner edges fitting snugly against the periphery of the main section of the top, and supported in this position by supporting and bracing members which are slidably mounted beneath the said main section of the top, and one object of the invention is to so construct and mount these supporting members that thev'will support and b ace the respective leaves in such a firm manner that there can be no sagging of any portion of any leaf nor will the leaves be distorted or tilted up \vardly it the table is lifted by grasping the leaves. n this connection the invention contemplates the provision ol. means for cf "l'ectually bracing both the end and interme diate portions of each leaf so that the leaves will be substantially supported as is the main or permanent section of the top.

The supporting and bracing members for the leaves are slidably mounted beneath. the

main section oil the table top and the in vention has as a further object to provide .ineans for locking these members both in their retracted and extended positions so that in the first instance the members can not slide outwardly to extended position if the table is tilted and the leaves are not in place, and in the second instance, when the leaves are in place, the inner edges thereof will be held in snug contact with the pcriphery of the main or permanent section of the top and any outward shifting movement of the leaves is effectually prevented.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

A further object of the invention is to so mount the supporting and bracing members that the adjustment of these members or the imposition of weight thereon will not result in the members cutting or biting into the under side of the wooden main section of the top and eventually producing a loose and wobbly connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking the extension leaves to the supporting members so that when these leaves are grasped for the purpose of pulling the table about from place to place, there will be no likelihood of the leaves being pulled away from engagement with the periphery of the main section of the top.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for relatively bracing the meeting ends of the leaves and thus prevent sagging or upward displacement of the said ends.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 .is a perspective view of the table embodying the invention the top being extended by the addition of four leaves;

FigureQ is a similar view illustrating lhe top of the table extended by the addition of two leaves;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the table proper. the extension leaves being all re moved;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the table arranged as shown in Figure 2; s

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view in detail. looking at a portion of the under side of the main section of the table top:

Figure 6 is a view in elevation looking at the edge of the adjacent ends oi two of the extension leaves;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6, one of the supporting and bracing members being illus trated in dotted lines; 7

Figure 8 is a perspective illustrating one of the locking devices which are carried by the extension leaves:

Figure 9is a transverse sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the means employed for bracing and securing the ends of the extension leaves shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings;

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrat ing one of the bracing members and a part with which it cooperates;

Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the locking device provided for one of the bracing members; 7 V

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating one of the bracing members the means provided for mounting the same and for locking themember;

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of one of the extension leaves shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 of the drawings. 7 y

In the drawin s, the main or permanent section of the ta 1e top is indicated in general b the numeral land the same is supports in any suitable manner either by a edestal or by legs 2, as illustrated in the drawings. This section of the top is of circular form and may be of any desired diameter, and secured to the underside thereof and concentric toiits periphery'is a rim which is indicated by the numeral 3. This 3 is continuous and serves to prevent warping or distortion of the top 1 and also, in a sense, as a .means for supporting and guiding theextensible and retractable supporting and bracing members for the exten+ sion leaves. When these members, which will presently be specifically described, are in their retracted positions, they are substantially concealed from view and the table does not difier in appearance from any ordinary dining table of small dimensions, and may be so employed until a table top of increased area or of a diiferent shape is desired or required whereupon the extension leaves are brought into use.

Certain of the supporting and bracing "extensions or members above referred to are indicated in general by the numeral land others by the numeral 5. the members dbeiug arranged at intervals of 90 about the under side of the top 1, and the members 5 being similarly spaced and arranged but each belocated midway between two of the members 4. Each of the members 4 is preferably in the form of a suitable length of T angle iron, the horizontal wing of the member being indicated by the numeral 6 and theverticall wing by the numeral 7, and these mem bers are slidably mounted upon the under side of the table top in a manner which will now be described. The numerals 8 and 9 indicate two weartplates of sheet metal of a suitable gage, which lates are disposed against the under side 0 the top section 1, the "plate 8 being received within a recess 10 cut in the upper ed eof the rim 3, and the plate 9 being space inwardly from the plate 8 on a radial line. A pair of guide members 11 having rabbeted opposing edges 12am secured to the under side of the table topsection 1 and against the under sides of the wear plates8 and 9, the ends of the said members mstingagainst the said plates. The

rabbeted edges 12 of the members 11 receive the horizontal wing 6 of the supporting member-i in the manner most clearly shown iii-Figure 13 of the drawings, and the depending or vertical wing 7- of this member is slidably received in a notch 13 formed in the bottom wall of the recess 10 in the rim 3, the outer ends of the members 11 being likewisereceived within the said recess .0 and. together with the outer edge of the wear plate 8, being flush with the outer surface of the rim 3. In this manner the member 4 is supported for sliding movement along a line radial to the axis of" the top section 1, and it may be drawn out to ex tend in supporting position projecting be yond the periphery of the top section, or it may be slid inwardly, when not in use, so as to lie wholly beneath the said, to section and thus be concealed from view. 11 order to limit the outward sliding movement of the member 4 itis preferable that the wing 6 of the member be provided with an abutment element such for example as a stud or lug 14 designed to strike against the inner end of one of the guide members 11 when the member 4 is fully drawn out to supporting position. The inward movement of allof the supporting and hracingmembers 4 and islimited preferably by an abutment member 15 secured upon the under side of the top section. 1 at the center thereof and constituting an abutment for the inner ends of these members when the members are slid inwardly to retracted position. In order to prevent the members 4 from sliding outwardly in the event the table is tilted to one side, there is provided a locking device which is indicated in general by the numeral 16, this device comprising a member 17 swiveled asat 18 upon the under side of one ofthe guide members 11 and provided with an eccentric or cam edge 19 which may be brought into binding engagement against the adjacentside of the depending wing 7 of the respective member 4 by swinging the member17 upon its pivot, a finger piece 20 being provided at that end of the member opposite the end at which the cam surface 19 is located. At this point it will be evident that after the members have been slid inwardly to retracted position, the locking devices 16 may be readily manipulated by reaching beneath the table top, so as to cause their cam ends 19 to bind against the wings.

7 of the members 4 whereby the members will be securely locked against outward sliding movement until the locking devices are manually disengaged.

Each of the supporting and bracing members 5 preferably colnpmises a suitable length of bar metal 21 disposed in a vertical plane beneath the table "top section 1 and having its rear portion slidably received in a guide yoke 29 secured to the underside of said trip section, a wear plate 23 being preferably disposed against the under side of the section so that the outer edgeot the bar 21 may ride against-this plate rather than against the said top section. The outer portion of the bar 21 is guided in a suitable yoke 2st preterably set into a recess formed in the upper edge of the rim 3, a wear plate 26 being interposed between the yoke and the under side of the table top section 1 against which the upper edge of the bar may ride. At this point it will be evident that by the provision of the wear plates 8 and 9 previously described, and the wear plates 23 and 26 just referred to, the supporting and bracing members are prevented from coming in contact with the under side of the wooden table top section and consequently their sliding movement or any weight imposed thereon will not result in wearing of the wooden top section and thus eventually cause a loose joint. In order to limit the out *ard sliding movement of each member the same is provided at its inner end with laterally projecting stud 27 designed to engage against the gi'iide yoke 22 as best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. 2 The bar comprisingeach oi the members '5 slides beside an abutment member 28 secured to the under side of the top section I, and in ordcrto lock the bar against out ward sliding movement when the bar is not in use and it is in retracted position. a locking device 29 is provided and comprises a member 30 which is swi'veled as at 31 upon the under side of said top section and is provided at one end with a cam lug 32 designed to have binding engagement against the bar at a point opposite the abutment member 28, andprovided at its other end with a finger piece 33 whereby the said member 30 may be swung about its swivel to cause its portion 32 to bind against the said bar 21 or to be disengaged from the bar;

Certain oi. thecxtension leaves are indicated by the numeral and others by the numeral 35. l'l' hen the leaves 34 are employed, four of them are made use of and thef are disposed end to end about the peripher otthe table. top sect-ion 1 with their iu'ncr edges snugly fitting the said periphery of the said table top, thelea ves being each' of segmental form and. each extending through an arc of 90. Theouter edges of the leaves 34 are curved on arcs eccentric to the periphery of the table top section land consequently when. the leaves are assembled with the said section the table top retains its circularlorm but presents-a considerably increased supporting areu.-' There are two of theleaves 35 provided and these leaves likewise are of substantially segmental'iorm and each describes approximately an arc of "Each of these leaves however is pro- :ided1with a terminal extension 36 at each end and these extensions are designed to fit the periphery of the table top section in the same manner as the inner edges of the body portions of the leaves but have outer edges substantially tangentialto the periphery of 70 the table top 1 so thatwhen the said leaves 35 are employed, a table top of elongated form is provided.

' In employing the leaves 34, all of the supporting and bracing members 1- and 5 are drawn out to supporting position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and each leaf is disposed in' position with its inner edge snugly engaging and fitting the periphery of the table top section 1 and with its two ends resting upon adjacent ones of the supporting members 4:, its intermediate portion resting upon the supporting member 5 which is located between the said, members 4-. In order that the leaves may bebraced and locked to the supporting members at, there is secured uponthe under side of each leaf St at one end a plate 3'7 having a depending lip 38 formed with a slot 39 opening through one lateral edge thereof. A locking member 10 is swiveled as at 41 to the under side of the plate'37 and has one end working in the said slot39 and beveled or of cam formation upon its upper face as indicated by the numeral 42, the said member 40 at its other end being provided with a finger piece 43 whereby it may be conveniently swung upon its pivot etl. The locking device just described is so located that when the table leaf is disposed to rest at its end upon the 00 upper surface of one of the supporting members t, one side of the wing 6 of the said supporting member 'will project between the end of the plate 37 and the cam end of the locking member 40 and when the 10.; looking member is swung upon its pivot this cam face 42 will bind against the under side of the said wingfi thus locking the table leaf, to the said supporting member. At this point it will be evident that-the swingmg, movement of the'locking member 1-0 in one direction. is limited by the inner endot the slot 39 in which this member works and the binding action of this member against the supporting member, 4.- is suchthat any outward pull upon the table leaf will result in the locking member taking an even. more secure purchase upon the said supporting member, and therefore the tableleajf is locked against outward displacement and will be securely held in assembled relation. with the table top section. Upon the under side of the leaf 34 atthe otherend of the leaf there is secured a plate 44 having a portion 45 projecting beyond the end edge of the leaf and designed to project and lie beneath. the under side of the end of the next adjacent leaf 34. Theprojectingportion 45 of the plate .lxl is cut away asat 46 to accommodate the locking device 37 upon the said end of the said other leaf 34 and "of course when the locking device is actuated to bind the supporting member 4, the projecting portion of the plate H upon the associated leaf will be firmly clamped to the supporting member at. In this manner the ends of the leaves 34 are not only firmlysupported against depression but they are also secured against upward displacement or distortion and the leaves as a whole are secured against radial displacement. When the leaves 34 areplaced in position, the outer end portion of the supporting members 5 will extend beneath the intermediate portions of the said leaves and will support these portions in amanner to prevent downward sagging thereof. In order to brace the intermediate portions of V the leaves against upward displacement a keeper, indicated in general by the numeral 47, is provided upon the under side of each leaf at its said portion, and this keeper comprises a member bent to form attaching ends 48 secured to the table leaf and an intermediate ortion 49 spaced below the ends 48 see Eigure 11. The outer extremity of each member 5 is formed with a notch 50, the walls of which are flared or beveled, as at 51, so that when the members 5 are moved outwardly to supporting position and the table leaf is placed in position at the periphery of the table top section, a portion 49 of the respective keepers 47 will enter the notches 50 in the ends of. the respective members 5, and due to the peculiar form given the walls of these notches, the membars 5 will be caused to bind. against the under sides of the respective leaves and thus the leaves are firmly secured and braced at their intermediate portions.

Each of the table leaves 35 is provided at 1 each end upon its under side with a locking device 52 of the same construction and operating in precisely the same manner as the lockingdevice 37 heretofore described, and each of thesaid leaves 35, is further provided upon its under side at its intermediate portion with a keeper 53 of the same construction and serving the same purpose as the keeper 47. When the leaves 35 are employed, eachleaf is supported upon two of the members 4 and the respective interveni ing member 5, the leaves being arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the table top section, and therefore two of the members 5 are not required to be employed under these conditions and maybe allowed to remain in their inner positions, as shown in Figure tof the drawings. In order that the extensions 36 of the leaves 35 may be securely connected with the table top sectionand prevented both from sagging and from upward displacement, a pivoted latch 54 is arranged upon the under side of each extension 36 and is provided in one edge with a notch 55 to tion of the table top section 1, the outer end of the latch 5 tbeing provided with a finger piece 57 to permit of ready movement of the latch into and out of engagement with the kee )er stud 56.

I aving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an extension table, a permanent top section, a supporting member extensible to project beyond the periphery of the said section, means for limiting the outward movement of the member, a leaf supported upon the said member, the member having a flange portion,a plate secured upon the under side of the leaf and having a depending lip formed with a slot, and a looking member swiveled upon the plate and working in the slot and limited in its movement in one direction by engagement against the wall of the slot the said locking mem her having a cam portion for binding engagement with the flange of the supporting member.

2. In an extension table, a permanenttop section, supporting members extensible. to project beyond the periphery of the said section, a leaf supported at its ends upon the said supporting members, a supporting member located between the first mentioned members and extensible to project beyond the periphery of the top section, and a keeper upon the leaf, the lastmentioned supporting member having a recessed portion for bind ing engagement with the said keeper whereby to restrain the leaf against upward displace ment. a

3. In an extension table, a permanent top section of curvilinear marginaloutline, sup porting members extensible to project beyond the periphery of the said section, leaves disposed. upon the supporting members, a

plate secured to the under side of one end of one leaf and projecting beneath the under side of the adjacent end of the next adjacent leaf, the said plate extending over one of the supporting members, and means carried by the said end of the adjacent leaf for binding engagement with the said supporting member whereby to bind the said ends of both leaves to the said supporting member through the cooperation of said plate and said means.

4:. In an extension table, a permanent top section, a supporting member extensible to project beyond the periphery of the said section. means for limiting the outward movement of said member, a leaf supported upon the said member, said member having a flange portion, a plate secured upon the under side of said leaf and having a depending lip formed with a slot, a locking member swiveled upon the plate and working in said. slot and, limited in its movement in one direction by engagement with a wall of said slot, said locking member having a cam portion for binding engagement with the flange of the supporting member; an intermediary supporting member located between said first supporting members and extensible in similar manner, a keeper upon said leaf, said intermediary supporting member having a recess portion for binding engagement with said keeper in order to 10 restrain said leaf from upward displacement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN MERDZINSKI. [L.S.] 

